The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-02-13
JUDGE BOND.

the matter stands. Ana WHICH, lha' ioOoi"
lis looked into II will appear that Judge
Bond has decided every single point OF
any consequence to the creditors of the
State. except one against them and In
favor of the State. 1t was not until the
creditors of the State were able to re-
verse him on these points in the Supreme
ICour, of the United States that they were
liable TO make any use whatever OF the Ju-
ldicial mower of the United States to en-
force their rights. So that if the judg-
ments and DEGREES that it is his habit to
enter now in certain coupon cases be
usurpatons, they are the usurpations OF
the Supreme Court of the United States,
which that high tribunal compels Judge
Bond to make Let US look into the
record and see how that matter stands.
In Baltimore and Ohio Railroad VS..
Allen, Judge Bond decided that the ten
der of the States coupons pays the tax.
This was a valuable point gained for the
creditors; but as the Supreme Court Of
| the United States afterwards unanimous
w decided the same thing, it is very evil
dent that he made no mistake about this
and did the State no harm then. But Of
what good was this declaration of naked
right. if the States officers paid no at
tention to tender Of coupOns-if they
seized the taxpayers property and sold
it after such tender-and there was no
tribunal in which they could get redress !?
In Smith VS.. Greenhow, he decided that
suit for trespass where a treasurer had
levied could not be maintained in his
court unless the tax due amounted to
$500. This was the same thing as to
deny redress to every one unless he owed
$500 of taxes, and so few persons paid
that amount that his decision practically
destroyed the right to pay direct taxes
with coupons The creditors appealed
and the Supreme Court unanimously re-
versed him and held that the smallest
taxpayer might sue for such trespass in
his court Any one can see the whole
matter for himself in Barry vs. Edmunds,
11G L. S r., p. $50 SO that, when he
now entertains jurisdiction Of these suits,
it is not his usurpation, if usurpation it
be, but the usurpatiOn of the Supreme
Court by the unanimous voice of all of
its justices.
These two decisions of the Supreme
Court made the creditors perfectly solid,
so far as direct taxes are involved; but
they are left helpless in regard to license
taxes, which constituted a large part of
the revenue. They, therefore, took the
bold ground that man who rendered
coupons for a license tax was entitled to
90 on with his business without license,
if the States authorities refused il to him.
But, on bringing the matter before Judge
Bond, he decided that the party could
not 90 on with his business without a
license, even though he had rendered
coupons and demanded his license. Any
one can read the decision for himself in
or Darte p. T. Moore in the records of
the United States Circuit Court at Rich
mond. The creditors took the question to
the Supreme Court, which unanimously
decided that Judge Bond was wrong,
and that the person could pursue his
business without a license after tender
of coupons. The decision can be seen in
11G A. 5. r., SIP, Royal VS. the State Of
Virginia This made the creditors solid
in respect to license taxes; and, together,
the three decisions bound the State hand
and foot, and delivered her over to her
creditors. But although their decision
produced these disastrous results TO the
State, can Judge Bond be held response
bic for them? All that he ever decided in
favor of the creditors, was that they had
naked, barren right. But when they
sought to make that right efiicacious, he
turned his back on them and drove them
out of his court.
Whether, therefore, Judge Bond be
popular with our people or whether he
be not it is unjust to him to hold him re-
sponsible for the present condition Of
things that exists in Virginia. 1t has
been forced on him against his own judg-
ment by the Supreme Court Of the
United STATES, to which he, and every
other citizen of the land must bow their
heads
gDrnTNV Ann RIR-nN